Wind and Truth Chapter 90: Interlude 11 – Visitors and the Fifth Journey
⚠️ Spoiler Warning: This guide contains detailed spoilers for the entire novel. Proceed only if you've finished reading or are comfortable knowing the plot.
Summary
Twelve-year-old Dyel works in her family’s shoe shop in Iri, a land where the Owners (singers with carapace) have returned. Three unusual men enter the shop: a tall dark-skinned man with a white coat and spectacles, a bald older man in colorful robes, and a thoughtful Shin man. Dyel suspects they are not from the East as they claim. The quiet Shin man, who gives her a full broam as a tip, asks if she has seen a strange light moving across the walls—a reference to an intelligent spren. Terrified, Dyel flees to the back room, grabbing a butter knife and hiding. She believes the tall man is the murderer (the Herald Nale) who killed her grandfather Ym. Her mother returns, summons a Shardblade, and confronts the men. The tall man denies being Nale, and the spren Uma appears, confirming the truth. The men reveal they are scholars: Baon (the tall one), Demoux (the thoughtful one), and Galladon (the bald one). Dyel’s mother gives them a letter left by a mysterious woman (the Trickster Aspect). The letter contains only a signature and a crude drawing. Outside, shouting erupts as the great spren Cusicesh rises from the bay at an unprecedented time, opening a column of light—a gateway. Cusicesh announces that he will guide the Iriali on the Fifth Journey, initiating the Long Trail to find the Fifth Land. Dyel and her mother grab their travel packs and join the exodus, leaving Roshar forever. On the other side, they find caravans preparing to cross the darkness. The three strangers are also present, with Demoux grumbling about the odd perpendicularity.
Key Events
- Dyel serves tea to three suspicious strangers who ask about intelligent spren.
- The tall man is initially mistaken for the Herald Nale, the murderer of Dyel’s grandfather.
- Dyel’s mother draws a Shardblade, revealing her as a Radiant.
- The spren Uma confirms the men are not the killer; the men identify themselves as Baon, Demoux, and Galladon.
- A letter from the “Trickster Aspect” is delivered, containing only a signature and a crude drawing.
- The great spren Cusicesh rises at the wrong time and opens a gateway to initiate the Fifth Journey.
- Dyel and her mother join the mass exodus of the Iriali, leaving Roshar to seek the Fifth Land.
- The three strangers are seen on the other side of the portal, with Demoux commenting on the unusual perpendicularity.
Character Development
- Dyel: Displays resourcefulness and fear when threatened, but also a deep faith in the Iriali religion (the One). She grows from a frightened child to someone who accepts the necessity of the Long Trail with a mix of terror and resignation.
- Dyel’s Mother: Revealed to be a Radiant (able to summon a Shardblade). She is fiercely protective of her daughter and pragmatic about using the hidden weapon.
- Baon: The tall Makabaki man is calm and diplomatic, quickly trying to de-escalate the situation. He carries a strange metal-tube weapon and dislikes being compared to Nale.
- Demoux: The thoughtful Shin man is obsessed with studying spren, but his blunt questions cause trouble. He shows a scientific curiosity that sets him apart from the others.
- Galladon: The bald grumpy man wears colorful robes and complains frequently. He is the most cautious and tries to smooth over the confrontation once it becomes clear they are not enemies.
- Uma: The intelligent spren is gentle and comforting, providing confirmation that the men are not the killer.
- Cusicesh: Normally silent, the great spren speaks for the first time, acting as a guide for the Iriali’s historic journey.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
- The Long Trail and the One: The Iriali belief that their race is composed of fragments of the One seeking experience and knowledge is directly manifested in the Fifth Journey. The exodus symbolizes a collective quest for reunification and understanding.
- Perpendicularities and Gateways: Cusicesh’s opening of a column of light represents a magical crossing point between Realms. This perpendicularity behaves oddly (Demoux notes the unusual behavior), hinting at the broader Cosmere mechanics at play.
- Mistaken Identity and Fear: Dyel’s initial terror of the visitors echoes the larger theme of prejudice and mistaken assumptions in war-torn times. The misunderstanding is resolved through calm explanation and trust.
- The Trickster Aspect: The letter with a crude drawing and signature reinforces the presence of a mischievous, chaotic figure who manipulates events from afar—a recurring motif in Sanderson’s works.
- Departure and Nostalgia: Dyel’s quiet farewell to her urban life contrasts with the grandeur of the journey, highlighting the pain of leaving behind the familiar for an uncertain future.
Why This Chapter Matters
Interlude 11 is a pivotal story in Wind and Truth, bridging several narrative strands. It reveals that the Iriali are preparing to leave Roshar entirely, fulfilling the prophecy of the Long Trail. This mass exodus will significantly alter the continent’s political and magical landscape, especially as the Fifth Journey coincides with the climax of the war on Roshar. The chapter also provides a rare glimpse of Cosmere-world-hoppers: Baon, Demoux, and Galladon are recognizable characters from other Sanderson novels (from White Sand, Mistborn, and Elantris respectively). Their presence ties the events of Roshar to the wider Cosmere, setting up potential crossovers. The letter from the Trickster Aspect (likely Hoid, in his role as Wit) confirms that these world-hoppers are being guided toward some larger purpose. Finally, the opening scene with Dyel and the Shardblade shows that even minor characters have access to significant power, reflecting the war’s pervasive influence.
Study Questions and Answers
1. Why does Dyel initially believe the tall stranger is the murderer?
Dyel’s grandfather, Ym, was killed by the Herald Nale. She has heard descriptions of Nale and has been living in fear of his return. The tall stranger (Baon) fits the stories: dark skin, soldier’s build, and an appearance that matches the killer in her mind. Her fear is only alleviated when the spren Uma confirms that Baon is not Nale.
2. What is the significance of Cusicesh speaking and opening a gateway at the wrong time?
Cusicesh is the great spren of Iri who normally appears only at specific times. By rising early and announcing himself as a guide for the Fifth Journey, he triggers the Long Trail—an ancient prophecy that the Iriali must leave Roshar to find the Fifth Land. This event upends normal life for Dyel and her people, forcing them to abandon everything. It also suggests that the Cosmere’s magical systems are strained or adapting to the conflict on Roshar.
3. What does the letter from the “Trickster Aspect” contain, and why is it important?
The letter contains only the signature of the Trickster Aspect and a crude drawing of male genitalia. This trivial message reinforces his chaotic and immature personality (widely interpreted as Hoid’s trickster aspect). Despite the disrespectful content, the letter serves as a signal to the three world-hoppers that their departure is timed correctly. It also ties the Iri interludes to the larger Cosmere narrative, showing that other beings (like Hoid) are aware of and subtly guiding events.